Cherry sorting machine



Sept. 8, 1959 Filed Nov. 18, 1955 G. w. ASHLOCK, JR 2,903,134

CHERRY SORTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w INVENTOR a GEORGE W. ASHLQCK,JR.,DECEASED, BY ALMA E. ASHLOCK,ADMINISTRATRIX,

W) Jaw.

Se t; 8, 1959 w, ASHLOCK, JR 2,903,134

' CHERRY SORTING MACHINE File d Nov. 18, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 INVENTOR GEORGE W. ASHLOCK,JR.,'DECEASED, BY ALMA E.ASHLOCK. ADMINISTRATRIX,

BY y z l 1959 G. w. ASHLOCK, JR

CHERRY SORTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 18, 1955 George W Ash/ask, dn,Deceased, 4) A/ma f- Ash/ock, Adminfstra trix,

P 8, 5 G. w. ASHLOCK, JR 2,903,134

CHERRY SORTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1955 FIG-4 INVENTOR z E A E .94 GEORGE W. ASHLOCK,JR.,DECEASEQ BY ALMA E. ASHLOCK, ADMINISTRATRIX,

I irrae/viri United States Patent 9 2,903,134 oHERRY SORTING MACHINE George W; Ashlock, Jr., deceased, late of Oakland, Calif.,' by Alma E. Ashlock, legal representative, Oakland, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to George W. Ashlock C0., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 549,907 3 Claims. Cl. 209-108) This invention relates to fruit handling apparatus, and more particularly to an improved machine which is specifically adapted to separate fruit, such as cherries, having stems from similar fruit having no stems.

When cherries are picked, some of them having their stems removed in the picking process or in subsequent handling and processing. Thus, picked cherries to be treated for eventual marketing consist of both stemmed and unstemmed cherries.

Cherries which are to be can-packed for everyday household consumption are desirably stemmed, while cocktail cherries, which bring a premium price, are desirably of the unstemmed variety. It is therefore necessary that the cherries be sorted to separate the stemmed ones from the unstemmed ones.

The cherry sorting machine of the subject invention constitutes an improvement over the apparatus which has been previously employed to effect such a separation of cherries.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a cherry sorting machine of the endless conveyor type adapted to release stemmed cherries at one point in its path of movement and unstemmed cherries at another point, improved stem holding means for more efficiently holding the unstemmed cherries against premature release and for increasing the distance between the two points of release, whereby optimum efiiciency of separation may be achieved.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with said improved stem holding means, means for positionally adjusting said stern holding means toward or away from said conveyor to selectively vary the effective stem holding force applied by said holding means, and non-friction drive means for moving said stem holding means in contactual engagement with said conveyor and at the same rate of travel as said conveyor.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a'jview in side elevation of the cherry sorting machine of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the machine of Figure 1; s

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view in section taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2, and illustrating the mode of operation of the machine;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken along lines 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a view in section taken along lines 66 of Figure 5.

With reference to the drawings, the framework of the machine is comprised of a pair of side plates 10 and 12 having horizontally directed portions 14 and downwardly inclined portions 16, means for rigidly interconnecting and supporting said sideplates comprising a Patented Sept. 8, 1959 pair of pipe sections 18, having their ends welded to the plates, a tie plate 20 disposed beneath the ends of plate portions 14 and secured thereto, as by welding, a tie plate 22 disposed beneath the lower ends of portions 16 of the plates and secured thereto, as by welding, a pair of pipe legs 24 having foot stands 26 at their lower ends, and having at their upper ends flange plates 28 which are bolted to the ends of tie plate 20 outside of the side plates 10 and 12, a pair of pipe legs 30 having foot stands 32 at their lower ends and having at their upper ends flange plates 34 which are bolted to the ends of tie plate 22 outside of side plates 10 and 12.

Shafts 36 and 38 extend through drill holes formed in side plates 10 and 12 and are journaled for rotation in suitable bearing housing and bearing cap means 40 which are secured to plates 10 and 12. Secured to shaft 36 for rotation therewith are a pair of toothed driver sprockets 42 which are in mesh with link chains 44 of the continuous pocket type conveyor indicated generally at 46, while secured to shaft 38 for rotation therewith are a pair of toothed idler sprockets 48 which are likewise in mesh with the link chains 44. The conveyor 46 is comprised of a plurality of molded rubber bars 50 having their ends secured, as by bolts 52 (Figure 4), to L-shaped brackets 54 forming parts of chains 44. The bars 50, adjacent ones of which have their upper portions in substantially abutting relation, are each provided with a plurality of holes 56 which are sized to contain a single cherry each. Guide rails 58 for the support of the link chains 44 are secured to plates 10 and 12 along the upper sides of the portions 14 and 16 thereof, as by bolts extending through spacer sleeves 60.

I to the side plates by means of angle pieces 106, one flange Means for rotating the sprockets 42 in a clockwise direction (with reference to Figure 1) to impart movement to conveyor 46 comprise: an electric motor 62 mounted on platform 64 supported by plates 66 secured to the side plates 10 and 12; a double chain sprocket 68 secured to motor output shaft 70; a double chain sprocket 72 secured to shaft 36; and a double chain 74 interconnecting sprockets 68 and 72.

The machine embodies cherry feeding means adapted to feed individual cherries into the conveyor holes 56 and to support said cherries therein until a predetermined point in the path of movement of conveyor 46 is reached, said means comprising: a hopper 76 having a pair of opposed side Walls 78 and an end wall sheet 84 which is attached to and bridges the forward edges of 7 portions 16 of plates 10 and 12; a skid plate 86 carried by and between chain support rails 58 and disposed in immediately underlying relation to the upwardly inclined portion of conveyor 46 and the initial part of the horizontal portion of the conveyor, said skid plate together with the holes 56 of the conveyor bars 50 constituting cherry receiving pockets; a rotary brush 88 secured to shaft 90 which is journalled for rotation in mounting plates 92 secured to side plates 10 and 12; and means to impart a clockwise rotation (with reference to Figures 1 and 3) to the brush 88 for the two-fold purpose of scavenging excess cherries from the conveyor, Lite, limiting the cherries carried by the conveyor to one per pocket, and for brushing the stems of the unstemmed cherries rearwardly, said means comprising a double chain sprocket 94 secured to shaft 90, a double chain sprocket 96 secured to the idler sprocket shaft 38, and a double chain 98 drivably interconnecting sprocket 94 with sprocket 96.

A pair of oppositely disposed and outwardly and down wardly inclined chutes indicated generally at 100 and 102 are provided beneath the cherry discharge area of the conveyor, said chutes extending through openings 104 formed in the side plates 10 and 12 and being secured of each of said angle pieces being secured to a side plate, and the other fiange thereof being secured, as by welding, to a side wall 108 of a chute. The upper ends of the chutes 1110 and 162 are secured together by being mutually welded to an angle shaped piece 119. The two chutes are provided with a continuous partition member 112 which divides the two chutes into separate discharge sections 114- and 116.

The stemmed cherries, i.e. cherries without stems, gravitate from the conveyor holes 56, once the end 118 of skid plate 86 has been passed, onto the discharge sections 114 of the chutes, to be received within appropriate receptacles, not shown, placed beneath the discharge ends of these chute sections. The unstemmed cherries, i.e. cherries with stems, drop onto chute sections 116, to be likewise received within appropriate receptacles, said cherries being maintained against dropping away from the conveyor by the clamping action applied to the brushedback stems 120 by a rubber roller belt 122. When the stems are released by belt 122, the cherries, such as that indicated at 124 in Figure 3, fall free of the conveyor.

The rubber roller belt 122 is comprised of an outer thick sponge rubber layer 126 and an inner reinforced rubber sheet 128. The belt passes over a driver roll 130 and an idler roll 132, with said rolls consisting of cylindrical shells 134 attached, as by welding, to end plates 136 which have secured thereto, as by bolts 138, annular retainer members 140 for the rubber belt 122. The rolls 130 and 132 have their end plates fixedly secured to shafts 142 and 144 which extend through side plates 146 and 148 and are journaled in bearing housings and caps indicated generally at 150. The side plates 146 and 148 are adjustably mounted with respect to the main side plates and 12 by means comprising: ears 152 secured to plates 10 and 12; studs 154 fixedly secured to cars 152 and extending through ears 156 attached to plates 146 and 148; and nuts 158 and 160 threadably engaged with studs 154 and disposed beneath and above the above ears 156. The plates 146 and 148 are interconnected by rods 162 and 164 which have the ends thereof welded to the plates.

Rod 162 also serves the purpose of supporting an angle plate 16% which has a downwardly and inwardly extending portion 168 which functions to lay back the stems of the cherries against the trailing portions of the conveyor bars 50 so that they will be positively oriented for clamping by the roller belt 122. Rod 164 serves the additional purpose of acting as a support member for a pair of complemental clamping bars 172 which are recessed to embrace both the rod 164 and a water spray pipe 174 which is disposed adjacent the surface of conveyor 46 and extends for the full width thereof. The spray pipe 174, which is connected to a source of water, not shown, directs water under pressure against the conveyor in the pattern indicated in Figure 3 to dislodge any cherries within the holes 56 of the conveyor which may have failed to fall free of the conveyor. Cherries so dislodged fall onto the chute sections 116. The water spray pipe 174 also serves to maintain the conveyor in a clean condition.

The roll 13%) is driven in a counter-clockwise direction (with reference to Figure 3), at a rate adapted to move the bottom run of the roller belt 122 in the same direction as the conveyor 46 is moved and at the same rate of speed, by means comprising: a gear wheel 176 secured to shaft 36; a gear wheel 178 in mesh with gear wheel 176, with said gear wheel 178 being secured, as by pin 130, to a double chain driving sprocket 132'; and a double chain drive 184 which is engaged with sprocket 152 and with sprocket 135 secured to the shaft 142 of roil 1311'. The gear wheel 178 and sprocket 182 are rotatably disposed upon a bearing sleeve 186 which is carried by stub shaft-188. The stub shaft is removably secured, as by set screw 190, within a hub member 192 which is fixedly secured, as by Welding, to a bracket plate 194. The bracket plate 194 is mounted for rotative adjustment about the bearing housing 40 for shaft 36 and is adjustably secured to plate 12 by bolts 196 extending through arcuate slots 19% formed in bracket plate 194. This arrangement is such that, by loosening the bolts 1% and adjusting bracket plate about bearing housing 40, the chain drive sprocket 182 can be adjusted toward or away from chain drive sprocket 185, while still maintaining gear 173 in mesh with gear 176, to thereby accommodate the driving means for the roller belt to the position of vertical adjustment of rolls and 132, as well as to adjust the tension of the double chain drive 184 or to take up any slack therein that may be developed.

To summarize the overall operational sequence, both stemmed and unstemmed cherries are picked up by the conveyor 46 from hopper 78; any cherries on the conveyor in excess of one per conveyor pocket are returned to the hopper by brush 88, with said brush also serving the function of initially laying back the stems of the unstemrned cherries; the stems are then finally oriented rearwardly by plate portion 168 and they are then clamped against the upper surface of the conveyor by the roller belt 122; the stemmed cherries drop out of the conveyor onto the sections 114 of the chutes after they have passed the end of the skid plate 118; the unstemmed cherries are released from the conveyor to fall onto chute sections 116 once the stems thereof are moved free of roller belt 122; and any cherries which may hang up in the conveyor, as by way of the stems remaining in a hooking position with respect to the conveyor, are dislodged by the pressurized water spray.

This overall cherry sorting operation is accomplished under conditions where the contact pressure of the roller belt 122 on the conveyor may be adjusted, as desired, and where the speed of travel of the roller belt and the conveyor may be precisely correlated. The large area of contact between the roller belt and the conveyor, as contrasted with the area of contact that would prevail if a cylindrical stern holder were employed, greatly increases the distance over which the sorting operation is accomplished, thereby insuring that there will be proper separation at all times of the stemmed cherries from the unstemmed cherries. The subject apparatus is therefore a precision sorting machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A cherry sorting machine comprising a support frame including a pair of spaced parallel main side plates, an idler shaft supported for rotation by said plates, a driver shaft supported for rotation by said plates, a pair of spaced toothed sprockets secured to each shaft, a chain passing around and in mesh with each driver and idler sprocket pair, said idler shaft being disposed beneath and away from said driver shaft, a pair of guide rails carried by said plates for the support of the upper reaches of said chains, said chains being thereby supported so that the forward portions of said upper reaches are upwardly and rearwardly inclined and so that the rearward portions of said upper reaches are horizontally directed, a plurality of substantially abutting bars carried by and between said chains, said bars being apertured to receive cherries, cherry feed means adapted to feed cherries into said bars adjacent the forward portions of said upper reaches of said chains, a skid plate carried by said side plates in immediately underlying relation to said bars at the forward portions and the forepart of the rearward portions of the reaches of said chains, means for laying back the stems of cherries before they reach the end of said skid plate, drive means for rotating said driver shaft, a pair of interconnected spaced parallel plates mounted on and above said side plates, a pair of spaced parallel shafts rotatably carried by said plates, a driver roll fixed to the rearward one of said shafts and an idler roll fixed to the forward one, a resilient belt extending around said rolls and adapted to be driven by rotation thereof, said belt having its lower reach in engagement with said bars both rearwardly and forwardly of the end of said skid plate, means for limitedly adjusting said roll carrying plates vertically with respect to said side plates to control the pressure of said belt on said bars, and means interconnecting said driver shaft carried by said main side plates with the driver roll carried by said other plates adapted to drive the lower reach of said belt in the same direction and at the same rate of travel as the bars it engages regardless of the positional adjustment of said roll carrying plates.

2. A cherry sorting machine as set forth in claim 1, said last mentioned means comprising a gear on said driver shaft, a reversing gear in mesh with said driver shaft gear and mounted for rotation on a stub shaft which is carried by a main side plate for pivotal adjustment about the axis of said driver shaft, a sprocket mounted on said stub shaft and connected to said reversing gear to be driven thereby, a sprocket fixed to the shaft carrying said driver roll, and a chain drive interconnecting said driver roll shaft sprocket and said stub shaft sprocket.

3. A cherry sorting machine as set forth in claim 2, said stub shaft being carried by a bracket plate which is carried by said side plate for pivotal adjustment with respect to said driver shaft, and means for releasably securing said bracket plate to said side plate for pivotal adjustment to accommodate said chain drive to the position of adjustment of said roll carrying plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,682 Schubert Feb. 22, 1949 2,485,653 Peel Oct. 25, 1949 2,668,619 Wormser et a1. Feb. 9, 1954 2,693,834 Frova Nov. 9, 1954 2,713,944 Schubert July 26, 1955 2,714,411 Aguilar Aug. 2, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 455,909 Italy Mar. 18, 1950 466,237 Italy Oct. 23, 1951 

